The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1887-08-19

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4 large number % Republican politi-
clans, Of greater and less degree. have
been interviewed In various parts Of
the country within the last few weeks
regarding the prospect for their party
In the approaching Presidential cam
paign. Nobody can have read many
such interviews without being struck
with the unsnimity with which all
these politicians confess that they are
trusting 10 luck for success next ;ear.
A . rule they say that the Republicans
will carry the election. but when
pressed for an explanation - TO how
they will do il, they always fall back
upon the theory that there will be
Labor candidate for President; that he
will draw of about twice rs many votes
from the Democrats as from the Re-
publicans; and that the Republican
nominee will thur slip :" In other
words, they virtually confess that on .
square test between the old parties the
Republicans are beaten before the
fight opens. but they trust to luck that
something will turn up by which their
party may win. without any reference
TO the question Of merits.
1t Is curious to observe how COM
pletely the old ''issueA" which have so
long been the stand-bys Of the Repub-
licans are now disposed Of There
was the scare" argument TO begin
with. which did such excellent service
30 long As the Republicans were in
power and could fool business men
and laboring men into the belief that .
Democratic administration involves
financial. industrial and commercial
peril" to quote the words Of the Mass
achusetts platform in 1884 But with
business better than It was in 1884.
and with the increased deposits show
ing that the laboring men are able TO
save more than ever before. it is simply
ridiculous TO tell business men or
laboring men that the country will be
ruined IL a Democrat is again elected.
The s'rebal claims" s'rebel pen
sions." and 'rebel debt" bugaboos
have also been done for. There may
be places in the backwoods where q
Republican stump speaker would still
venture TO got OF those ancient
gags" but among respectable peo.
pie nobody longer has the assurance
to talk that sort OF nonsense. And i,
had tremendous hold upon intelli
gent people only three years ago. u
they would be honest about il. tens o.
thousands Of men. who now see thai
there was no foundation for theil
dread. would confess that they were
only frightened into voting for Blaine
in 1884. against their convictions. BY
the ''view-with-alarm" plank abou
the rebel claim" business
The State-rights issue has gone thu
same way with the ''ruin" and the
'rebel CLAIMS" That Democratic
President would have the chance t. I'll
vacancies in the Supreme Court with
men who believe in State-rights. ans
that this would be dangerous to thu
Nation. was once an effective argu
ment But the Supreme Court itself
while composed entirely Of justices ap
pointed BY Republican Presidents. ha.
made 1t Of no avail in future. for tha'
court has settled the State-rights issue
in a way which no Democrat wants K
unsettle. and Justice Miller has de
clared thss 1.-THE autonomy Of tn,
States, and their power to regulate
their domestic affairs" are now estab
lished uson firm basis.
The .'solid South" cry no longel
frightens any body. 1t used to y
urged that il the Democrats came int
power. they would virtually re-enslav'
the negroes. make the South uninhab
table BY Northern men. and generally
cut up all manner Of mischief. Bu
the negroes themselves admit tha
they are better OF than ever before
Northern men are settling IN the Soutl
in steadily growing numbers. and tn
relations between the races are found
by such observers As General Armstrong
Of Hampton. = Union soldier ans
Republican. to be more kindly than Al
any previous time since the war. Oh
the sectional issue all that the Repub
licans have to offer Is the assurance
for which they may appeal with con
6dence to their record in the past, thai
IL they are restored 10 power. there
will be more ''outrages' in the Soutl
than there have been since Mr.. Cleve
land was inauguratcd; but ii may be
doubted whether even "BilI' Chandler
or General futile would venture q
stump the country on that basis
After all. when one comes 10 review
the held. It Is not so evil As II appears
At first thought that the Republican
managers are trusting to luck il 1888.
All Of their old devices are used up,
and they see rs plainly as anybody else
that no new ones can be invented Il
take their places So IL il that the or.
ganization. which. as party 81
moral ideas" elected Abraham Lin
coin y 1860. rests It's hope Of victory
in 1888. not upon the promise 70 the
wisest voters Of the best candidate. but
upon the chance that Labor nominee
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